Konkani Jagrati Abhiyan flagged off in District
Udupi: To create awareness and encourage students to take up Konkani as a third language in schools, the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy launched ‘Konkani Jagrati Abhiyan’ at the Government High School Volakadu here, on Tuesday, June 14. Ashok Kamath, a professor at Government Teachers Training College, flagged off the Abhiyan by handing over the Konkani flag to the school’s Headmistress.
Speaking on the occasion, president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Roy Castelino said that the Karnataka state government added Konkani as a third language in schools from 2007. There are about 50,000 students speaking Konkani across three districts – Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada. The language is written in five different scripts. Though there are slight differences in the usage, the language should be brought under one roof. Teachers and parents play a great role in this process. They should motivate children to speak Konkani, said Castelino.
At present, Konkani is being taught as a third language at 60 primary schools, 27 high schools and four colleges. Students from 12 schools have answered the SSLC Konkani paper during the last academic year’s exam. 69 students from 9 schools have answered it in the Kannada script and 8 students from 3 schools have answered it in Devanagari script. The academy aims to use this awareness drive to convince schools to allow interested students to study Konkani as the third language. As per the plan, students will learn Konkani in the Kannada script. As Kannada is the state and administrative language, the academy has already prepared Konkani language textbooks in the Kannada script.
The Konkani Jagrathi Abhiyan drive has also been taken up in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. “We have targeted 100 schools in Karwar taluk, 112 in DK and 50 schools in Udupi district. We have completed visiting 100 schools in Karwar and 112 in DK district. Lack of awareness and preference to English over other languages has discouraged children from studying Konkani in schools. The academy team will visit schools and convince them to adopt Konkani as a third language if children show interest,” he added.
Parisaracha Vengenth written by Manu Bajal and Nani Battale Swargache Sapna written by Om Ganesh Uppunda were released on the occasion. Amrith Shenoy (member, Academic council and Konkani Adhyana Peeta Mangaluru University), Naresh Kini (secretary, Vishwa Konkani Kendra), Nagabhooshan Shet and Indu Ramananda Bhat (President and Vice president, SDMC Government High School Volakadu), Shaila Fernandes (Konkani Adhyana Peeta), Nirmala and Kusuma (HMs Primary and High School) and Dr B Devadas Pai (Registrar) were present.